St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-24
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
The Red Lake Indian Treaty.

To the Editor of the Globe.
Will you kindly allow me space in your
columns to call the attention of the people of
the state to the importance of having the
treaty made last summer with the Red Lake
Indians speedily ratified by congress and i'm
mediate steps taken to open up the vast pine
forests within their reservation to the public?
The immense tract embraced in that reserva-
ton is composed of vast pine forests upon
which there is estimated to be at least 2,000,-
0U0, 100 feet OF lumber, and unlimited swamps
and boys lying between the Red lakes and the
international boundary, with a few townships
OF paSSable agricultural land along the Thief
and Red Lake rivers all of the latter being
reserved in the treaty for the Indians. All of
this great forest of pine timberls situated upon
streams tributary to the Red Lake river,
which runs in westerly direction toward the
great treeless prairies Of Western Minnesota
and Dakota. Outside of this reservation
upon the headwaters of the Clear Water
river, is the only other natural supply of pine
for all this vast extent of country, and this
forest is all owned or controlled by L. B.
Walker and his Red River Lumber company
who hold monopoly of the lumber business
in the Red River valley, and sell all the lum-
Der cut by their mills at CrOOkston and Grand
Forks at the same prices which the people
have 10 pay for lumber shipped from Mime
apolis and Duluth, upon which we have to
pay railroad freight for 800 miles, making
lumber so high that, although we are situated
just at the door of the supply of lum-
Der nature designed for our use in improving
the country, it takes large load of wheat to
buy very small load Of lumber. All the
pine upon this great reservation is fully ma
tured and is deteriOrating in value every year
it stands. being destroyed br fire and decay,
while Immediately to the west of it in Mime
sofa and Dakota are bouudleSS praries I'M
surpassed in fertility, the settlers upon which
q Ia in n hn I1lO1hn hat
ture mas provided in such abundance, so near
to them. to make improvements necessary to
their COM o t and the development of the
country. While these facts are so sef-evi-
dent TO the ordinary observer, why is it that
there is not something done without delay to
open up this vast lumber supply and let the
people who are striving to improve this vast
country have the benefit of cheap lumber
and not be compelled to enrich monopoly
which has got esa control of what a
benefcent Providence placed within the
reach Of the Industrious and en-
terprising settler who is striving TO make
himself home and add to the wealth of the
country? The general government last sum-
mer made treaty with the Indians which
provides for the sale of these lands, and that
the proceeds Of such sale shall be held in
trust by the government for the Indians, thus
fully protecting their rights. The telegraph
Informs US that the Hon. knute Nelson, rep
resentative from the Fifth district, says that
he will oppose the ratification Of the treaty,
because it provides that the agricultural
lands shall be sold in 100 acre tracts upon
sealed bids, and not opened to homestead en-
tries. Is there any foundation to this objec-
ton, or is it political buncombe to cover up
the real reason which he does not care to dis
close? Let us see.
First-There Is not in the limits covered by
this treaty to exceed three or four townships
of land that could be cultivated at all, and
they are scattered over it in small patches of
| less than Il section in any one place, the rest
being sW amps, boys and white sand plains.
| Second-If there is a few townships of
agricultural land there, to whom does it be-
! long? Why, to the Indians, of course. If
not, why does the government treat with
them for any Of it? If, then, the land be-
longs to the Indians and the government pro-
| poses to sell it and mold the proceeds in trust
| for their benefit what right have they to take
any portion and give it to the whites as home
steads by the simply paying S14 fees to the
officers of the land Office? And as to OPEN
ing it for presumption entry, has not the
government learned long ere this that the ex-
| pense OF running down frauds in presumption
| entries. in timbered regions. has cost the
| government vastly more than it gets for the
| land, besides opening Il school for perjury
! and villainy? But the last argument against
! the opening of the reservation was that pub
| lished in the Minneapolis Evening Journal,
| one day last week that the cutting off of those
make desert out of Minnesota and Dakota.
! If that Is so. then congress should at once
! stop 7. B. Walker and the Red River Lumber
| company from cutting pine at the head Of
| the Clearwater and the Mississippi
or Lake Glazier will soon be no more and the
| controversy as to who was its original discov-
! erer will be dried up forever. The people of
/ Crookston are alive TO the Importance of
| immediate action in this matter and have
called convention to meet at that place on
! the 18th inst. to discuss the matter and to
/ agree upon some united action TO call the
! attention of congress to the matter and to
urge them to act speedily upon it. and have
! extended an invitation TO every town, city,
village and hamlet in the Red river valley,
| both on the Minnesota and Dakota side of
| the Red river, TO send delegates There should
! be public meeting held at every city and
| village in the valley and the matter. agitated
! and delegates sent to this convention, to the
! end that the whole people interested in this
/ matter may act as a unit JOAN n. IVES.
Crookston, Mimi, Jan. 90